Primary Memory
Random Access Memory (RAM) and its functions:
• It is a temporary memory
• It is used to store data, files or part of the operating system that are currently in use.
• It can be written to or read from the contents of the memory which can be changed.
The larger the RAM size of a computer, the faster it runs since it is faster to carry out orders and
operations. In reality the RAM never runs out of memory, but it gets slower and slower when
too much memory is stored until the computer freezes or restart (restarting your computer
means that the data stored in the RAM will disappear).
There are 2 types of RAM, the dynamic RAM (DRAM) and the static RAM (SRAM).
Dynamic RAM
Dynamic RAM chips consist of a number of transistors and capacitors which have different
functions:
Transistor- this acts like a switch, it allows the chip to control circuitry to read the capacitor or
change the capacitor’s value.
Capacitors- this holds the bits of the information.
This type of RAM has to be refreshed continuously every (approximate) 15
microseconds otherwise it will lose its value.
Static RAM
This type of RAM doesn’t need to be constantly refreshed. SRAM is faster than DRAM when it
comes to data access.
Static RAM:
• costs more than DRAM
• Consumes more power than DRAM
• Lower storage capacity than DRAM
The ROM (Read Only Memory)
• Permanent memories (even though the device is turned off)
• They’re often used for storing start up information of devices since it cannot be
accessed and changed.
Applications for RAM and ROM
ROM:
• stores factory settings like remote control frequencies (things that aren’t supposed
to be changes).
• stores the start-up routines when the toy car is first switched on.
• stores set routines
RAM:
• storing programs
• receive and store data from the remote-control unit
Secondary Storage
It is alternatively referred to as external memory, secondary memory, a secondary storage
device is a non-volatile device that holds data until it is deleted or edited by the user. The main
secondary storage devices are:
1) HDD or Hard Disk Drive
• Data is stored in a digital format on the magnetic surfaces
• Much slower data access than RAM
• The platters (magnetic surfaces on the disk) spins around 7000 times a second.
• If it breaks then all the data will be lost.
• It is the most common type of data storage on a computer
• cheaper than the SSD
2) SSD or Solid-State Drive
• More costly than HDD
• More reliable since there are no moving parts (no data will be corrupted)
• Faster than HDD since it doesn’t need to refresh constantly like the HDD
• Less chance of data corruption
• Most of SSD store data by controlling the movement of electrons within NAND chips.
• Sometimes they use EEPROM technology. This uses NOR chips, makes them faster in
operation.
• But EEPROM technology. is more expensive than NAND technology.
• Consumes less power because no parts are meant to be moved.
Off-line storage
Offline storage refers to any storage medium that must be physically inserted into a system
every time a user wants to access or edit data. Offline storage can be any type of internal or
external storage that can easily be removed from the computer. Offline storage is also known
as removable storage. Offline storage is very helpful because:
• it can be accessed where and any time if there is an electronic device
• data can be edited wen offline
• file corruption will unlikely occur since it does not appear online and can only be
shared when the user decides
• data can be carried anywhere
• data can be duplicated (backup files)
Here are the types of offline storages
CD/DVD disks
• CDs and DVDs are optical storage devices
• Red laser light is used to read/ data in the surface of the disc (the wavelength of the
red light is 650 nanometers – longer to read the data so it is slower to load)
• Data is stored in pits and bumps in a spiral track
• DVD uses dual-layering which increases the storage capacity.
• The smaller the pits and the spiral track, the more data can be stored.
• The DVD uses laser with the wavelength of 650 nm but CD’s laser wavelength is
780nm.
• CDs and DVDs are optical storage devices
• Red laser light is used to read/ data in the surface of the disc (the wavelength of the
red light is 650 nanometers – longer to read the data so it is slower to load)
• Data is stored in pits and bumps in a spiral track
• DVD uses dual-layering which increases the storage capacity.
• The smaller the pits and the spiral track, the more data can be stored.
• The DVD uses laser with the wavelength of 650 nm but CD’s laser wavelength is
780nm
<– This is a
diagram about the method used for CDs and DVDs to store and edit data, by things called “pits”
and ‘bumps” on the reflective side of the disc. The length between the pits and the bumps are
called the Wave length, the shorter the wave length, the more storage capacity there is.
<– Labeled
diagram of a CD disc.
The DVD-RAM
• Use a number of concentric tracks
• Concentric track allows simultaneous read and write operations to take place.
• They allow numerous read and write operations and have great longevity. This makes
them ideal for archiving.
Blu-ray Disks
• optical storage devices
• Use a blue laser to carry out read and write operations (the wavelength of the blue
light is only 405 nm)
• Pits and bumps are much smaller
• Greater storage than DVD
The differences between Blu-ray, CDs and DVDs:
• CD and DVD use red laser to read and write data while Blu-ray disks use blue laser.
• Blu-ray wavelengths are the closest to each other which means that more data can
be stored and to a higher quality whereas CDs have the furthest wavelength.
• CD- uses single 1.2 mm polycarbonate layer to be constructed
• DVD uses two 0.6 mm polycarbonate layers, this method is called dual layering which
increases the storage capacity.
• Blu-ray uses single 1.1 mm polycarbonate layer
• Track pitch (distance between tracks) – CD = 1.6 micrometers, DVD = 0.74
micrometers, Blu-ray = 0.3 micrometers.
